Wow: Delta Sky Club LAX Terminal 3 Review

After being in the works for four years, The Delta Sky Club at LAX Terminal 3 recently opened in April 2022. It’s a beautiful and spacious lounge that is fully equipped with multiple bars, a Sky Deck, showers, and a lot more.

Check out what the experience is all about in the review below and if you ever go to visit let us know what you think!

Getting to the lounge

The Delta Sky Club at LAX Terminal 3 is located on the departures level between T2 and T3. Once you get close, you really can’t miss it.

The new lounge was part of an even larger project that involved re-doing Delta’s Terminal 3 in a substantial way.

Highlights of the new Terminal 3 include:

  • A centralized headhouse that consolidates check-in, security and baggage claim 
  • 32 self-serve kiosks and 46 check-in positions 
  • A 250-foot digital backwall featuring helpful info like Delta Sky Club volume 
  • Five baggage claim carousels
  • Seven new security lanes

If you’re coming from Terminal 3 you’ll be able to experience the new terminal but because we were on a connection going through Terminal 2 we didn’t really have that opportunity.

Note: When the Delta Sky Way at LAX project is complete in 2023, Terminals 2 and 3 will be a consolidated.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Delta Sky Club LAX entrance

Access

We gained access to the lounge since we were flying Delta and we had Amex Platinum cards but there are various ways you can gain access to Delta Sky Clubs.

As soon as we entered the lounge I noticed there were five self-service kiosk stations with a few staff members attending them and it occurred to me that this would be an automated entry.

I absolutely hope other lounges head in this direction because it just makes things so much easier.

Delta Sky Club LAX kiosks

Because Brad and I were together they asked if we had separate entry which we did based on us each having a Platinum Card so we checked in separately.

All we had to do was scan our boarding pass and swipe our cards and then that was it.

Access granted.

I did see there was an option to add a guest so if that’s what you need to do it looks like that will be easy to accomplish on the kiosk.

After enjoying a little 21st-century kiosk automation, we made our way up the escalator in this stunning lobby, where fixtures designed to resemble waves rolling in the ocean hang from the ceiling and immediately impress.

Delta Sky Club LAX escalators

Exploring the lounge

As soon as we made our way past the wood-screened area, which marks the official entrance to the lounge, I could tell this was going to be one of the more memorable legacy carrier lounge visits I’ve had in recent memory.

Delta Sky Club LAX lobby

The swankiness is undeniable.

Delta Sky Club LAX seating

The lounge was spacious and had a steady flow of traffic but did not ever feel overcrowded.

That’s no surprise considering that it’s over 30,000 square feet — one of the largest in the Delta network.

Delta Sky Club LAX food area

We took a right upon entering and made our way towards the corner of the lounge where we had some nice runway views while also being close to the food and drink area.

Before grubbing out, I made my rounds around the lounge to check everything out and was continuously impressed by the design and layout.

There’s a lot of seating options and no shortage of power outlets and USB ports making it extremely easy to get comfortable and charge your devices at the same time.

You’ll definitely have no excuse for your device going dead at any point.

Delta Sky Club LAX seating

Floor to (nearly) ceiling windows line the lounge offering great runway views for many guests.

Delta Sky Club LAX seating with outside view of planes

If you’re unable to secure a view looking out, the views looking in to this swanky interior can also delight. It didn’t take long for this lounge to win me over.

Delta Sky Club LAX seating

I liked the area with the little privacy pods for getting work done or talking on the phone.

Delta Sky Club LAX seating
Delta Sky Club LAX seating

These cozy little phone booths could be a great place to focus if the lounge gets a bit busy. Inside each one you can find a power outlet and USB port. Sensors will trigger the light when you open the door.

These are perfect for people like me who rely a lot on speech to text dictation. And hopefully this will attract some of those people that can’t help themselves to using speakerphone in the lounge…

Delta Sky Club LAX privacy booth

For those trying to get work done out in the open there’s a beautiful wooden work table for eight. Semi-private cushioned cubbies resembling a nice NFL locker room surround it.

A printer station can be found in the corner.

Delta Sky Club LAX seating

This is right by where you’ll find the entrance to the bathroom (more on the amazing bathrooms below).

Delta Sky Club LAX seating

Just beyond the work table area, there is a bar area which once again has plenty of outlets built-in.

Delta Sky Club LAX seating

There’s also a large media wall that was playing ESPN.

You’ll find comfortable seating options in front of it that give off a very fitting cinema vibe.

Delta Sky Club LAX seating with TV
Delta Sky Club LAX seating with TV

Near the media wall a flamboyant little nook with a mosaic mural featuring glass tiles imported from Italy, known as the “Coffee Grotto,” will certainly catch your eye.

Delta Sky Club LAX coffee grotto

It’s a nod to the golden age of Hollywood and it seemed to be popular because it stayed busy for almost the entire time. Eventually, after several passes, I got a shot with only a few people in it.

Delta Sky Club LAX coffee grotto

Also in this part of the lounge was another seating area partitioned off with some Hollywood Hills inspired design.

Delta Sky Club LAX seating

Just like the other side of the lounge you also have great runway views along with the backdrop of mountains. Catching LA on a pretty clear evening was a nice finishing touch to this trip.

Delta Sky Club LAX views of Delta planes

Later on during our visit, we made our way over to this side because our gate was located right next to it so we could watch our plane come in from where we were seated.

Delta Sky Club LAX view of jet bridge

Always love a lounge visit where you can keep an eye on your gate and it makes it that much sweeter that you only have a short walk to get there.

Delta Sky Club LAX view of Delta plane

One final thing I meant to mention was that you can find help desks near the entrance of the lounge along with kiosks.

Delta Sky Club LAX help desks

Dining

This Sky Club had some high-quality dining options.

To kick off the dining experience, first I made my way to the drink section where I found a lot of different options.

Delta Sky Club LAX beverage station

They had regular Starbucks brewed coffee along with decaf and a hot water dispenser.

Delta Sky Club LAX coffee station

Different types of Harney & Sons tea packets were available including green, mint, and earl grey.

If you want more flavors, head over to the drink station on the other side of the lounge and you can find different types like chamomile and several others.

That’s also where you can find the stations for making your own espressos and cappuccinos.

Delta Sky Club LAX tea station

They also had different types of infused water including some with fresh strawberries. Infused water always sounds so good and refreshing to me… until I drink it. I think it’s that watered-down taste that just makes me want to put down the glass.

Delta Sky Club LAX infused water station

Sparkling water is very different story, however.

For sparkling water enthusiasts like myself they had a Bevi machine, although you could also choose Aha from the Coke Freestyle machine right next to it.

Delta Sky Club LAX Bevi station
Delta Sky Club LAX Coke freestyle machine

Next to the drink station, you could find a variety of snacks and potato chips.

Delta Sky Club LAX snacks

After figuring out the drink situation, it was time to check out the real food.

The lounge features local chefs on a quarterly basis via the Local Flavor program so they are constantly mixing up something special.

I started by checking out the different types of sandwiches which included vegetarian options.

Delta Sky Club LAX sandwiches

The main attraction for myself and most people that I saw had to have been the juicy brisket.

As someone from Texas, I have high standards for such a dish and it did not disappoint at all. Not only was it tasty but it also was fresh and just kind of blew my mind how good it was. Definitely did not expect that.

Delta Sky Club LAX brisket

Other dining options included spicy tofu and a Thai vegan broth along with tomato basil soup.

For sides they had Ruby Rice, steamed broccoli, and a variety of vegetables and dishes like coleslaw. Bread rolls were also plentiful.

My measuring stick for judging the quality of food in an airport lounge is: can you get full only eating items you truly enjoy?

In this case, the lounge passed this test with flying colors.

Delta Sky Club LAX vegetables with ranch dip
Delta Sky Club LAX salad station

They also had a meat and cheese selection which looked pretty appetizing.

Delta Sky Club LAX meat and cheese station

For dessert, they provided an apple tart dish and multiple types of cookies which are the only things I didn’t truly care for.

But that also probably had to do with the fact that we just had an amazing chocolate chip cookie on board Delta First Class flying from Houston (IAH) to LAX.

So I think I was a little bit over the limit with sweets at that point.

The other side of the lounge also had a buffet center where you could put together your food items. I think it was a little bit smaller but it was also a lot less busy than the one we were sitting by.

Delta Sky Club LAX food station

At the end of this food area there is a hidden candy corner where you can find glass jars full of different types of candies like flavored Tootsie Rolls and other types of “classic” wrapped candies like taffy.

Delta Sky Club LAX candy bar

Bar

There are two main bars in the lounge: one indoors and one on the Sky Deck.

Delta Sky Club LAX bar

The bar inside is located right in the middle of the lounge and it’s pretty much on the opposite side from the one on the Sky Deck.

Delta Sky Club LAX bar

The servers at both bars were very good and I was really happy to have such great service.

The bar will serve you up complimentary drinks although you will need to pay if you want one of the signature cocktails or premium alcoholic beverages.

The complimentary beverages include:

Wine

  • Sparkling Brut
  • Chardonnay
  • Pinot Grigio
  • Rose´
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Pinot Noir

Beers & Seltzer

  • Michelob Ultra Draft
  • Regional Craft
  • Michelob Ultra Cucumber Lime Seltzer
  • Samuel Adams Just the Haze IPA NA

Spirits & Liqueurs

  • New Amsterdam Vodka
  • Damrak Gin
  • Plantation 3 Stars Rum
  • Camarena Silver Tequila
  • Old Forester 86 Proof Bourbon
  • Dewar’s Scotch
  • Kahlua
  • Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream

As for the signature cocktails, you’re gonna be spending around $9 to $12 for most drinks.

If you want premium spirits then they have a variety of those including vodkas, gin, rum, tequila, whiskey, scotch, and cognac.

Prices are typically around $7 to $10 but can get much more expensive for some of the higher end products like Johnny Walker Blue Label.

Brad decided to try one of the signature cocktails called the Flower District Margarita. A tasty drink and the St-Germain elderflower liqueur put a nice twist on a margarita.

Delta Sky Club LAX flower district margarita

You can also take advantage of a pretty broad selection of champagne, wine, and beer.

You’ll have to shell out some cash (~$5) for premium craft or imported beers such as Blue Moon or Dos Equis.

Unfortunately, the bar is still without Dom Perignon so you can’t currently use your miles for a glass or bottle. I’m really hoping that that option comes back soon.

Later on, we spent some time out on the Sky Deck which was an awesome experience.

Because I have almost exclusively flown United, American, and Southwest I’ve only had one prior visit to a Delta Sky Club at PHX but it did not have a Sky Deck.

For the longest time I’ve been wanting to experience one and I don’t think there could be a better place to do so than the one in LAX considering how awesome it feels outside especially during the evenings.

It’s not a surprise that it remains open all year round.

Delta Sky Club LAX Sky Deck

On the Sky Deck, you could find different types of seating from bar seats to comfortable chairs.

Delta Sky Club LAX Sky Deck

A lot of the seats looking out towards the runway were taken outside which was no surprise given how great it felt. However, there were plenty of open seats along the bar.

(If you don’t see a bartender at the bar just approach the bar and one will probably come out to serve you from the inside.)

Delta Sky Club LAX Sky Deck bar

Bathroom

The bathrooms are to the left after you enter the lounge and you’ll find them in a beautiful hallway that also is home to the showers.

Delta Sky Club LAX bathrooms

The men’s bathroom was huge with quality and very private stalls.

Delta Sky Club LAX mens bathroom

It was also clean and smelled good so it was about as good as you will be able to get.

Delta Sky Club LAX mens bathroom

I didn’t get a chance to check out the showers but based on the status of the bathrooms and all of the photos I’ve seen, I’m sure those were top notch.

Final word

As a travel blogger, I’m constantly researching experiences before we ever give them a shot and so rarely am I ever surprised.

But on this occasion, this was our final connection after traveling for roughly 3 weeks and I did not do my homework before heading to the lounge.

That meant that the entire experience was a true surprise and I was unexpectedly blown away which is something that does not happen very often.

Our First Class flight with Delta was also an enjoyable flight and so I’m really becoming a pretty big Delta fan.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse Lounge at LAX Review

The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse lounge at LAX is located in Terminal 2 and it’s one of my favorite airport lounges I’ve stopped at to date. It’s a small but beautiful lounge with great cocktails, decent entrees, and a passionate and attentive staff. Here’s my Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at LAX review.

Finding the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at LAX Terminal 2

We easily found the lounge a little after we went through TSA Pre-Check at Terminal 2. Look for the illuminated staircase and then walk your way up the stairs and you’ll see a sign pointing you directly to the Clubhouse — you can’t miss it.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 31
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse entrance at LAX Terminal 2.

This area of the terminal was recently renovated and it’s a pretty stunning sight.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 30
LAX Terminal 2.

After we strolled up to the entrance, the receptionist met us with a warm greeting and within seconds, we entered the lounge.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 33
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse entrance.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 40
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse entrance.

There had been a number of cancellations out of LHR due to snow and our Virgin Atlantic flight 24 had been delayed for over an hour. Due to the delay, we had a total of about four hours to spend at the lounge, which actually passed pretty quickly thanks in large part to the never-ending cocktail selection.

I should note that while this is a Priority Pass lounge, admission is limited to certain hours. Also Priority Pass guests do not get the full selection of hot menu items or cocktails so the Priority Pass experience will differ a lot from the experience below.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 36
Priority Pass hours for the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse.

The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX Lounge

Upon entering, I noticed how chic all of the furniture and lounge decor was. There was nothing “boring” about this lounge and I could quickly tell that I’d be enjoying my time at the Clubhouse.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 29
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse entrance.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 27
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse entrance.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 28
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse entrance.

The first part of the Clubhouse lounge has comfy seating in the form of long couches with plenty of multi-colored pillows that emphasize the modern look. There are some small tables as well, which all come with menus for your convenience.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 2
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX seating.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 1
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX seating.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 3
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX seating.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 4
The seating options come with bright colors.

In addition to the couches, there are several swanky chairs you can choose for your seating options if you’re not into sharing a couch with others.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 5
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 6
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX.

The walls are lined with seating options that look out to the taxiways. It’s mostly Delta and Southwest jets that you’ll be viewing but you also get views as far as the LA skyline and the Hollywood Hills.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 10
View from the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at LAX.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 9
View from the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at LAX.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 8
View from the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at LAX.

As you move more inside the lounge, the seating transitions into more dining-friendly tables and chairs.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 12
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse dining seating.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 13
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse dining seating.

At the very end of the lounge, there’s a semi-private booth area with a soothing LCD display. I wanted to snag that area but there was a gentleman there before we arrived and he never moved an inch so we had to admire it from afar.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 14
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse dining seating.

Eventually we chose one of the tables seen below for our dining experience. There were no outlets near our table, though you can see that one of the other tables did have outlets near it.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 15
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse dining seating.

The bar is also located in the middle of the lounge.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 17
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX bar.

Beside the bar is an area with chips, cookies, and water. (The cookies are soft, chewy, and amazing.)

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 16
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse snack area.

The bathroom is also nearby, just around the corner.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 32
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX bathroom.

Overall, it’s not the largest lounge but there are a lot of seating options. Considering that they limit access for Priority Pass members when Virgin Atlantic flights are set, I don’t think overcrowding will be a major issue. I will say that about 1.5 hours before departure, the lounge filled up and there were very few empty seats in the lounge so I strongly recommend arriving early to lockdown a preferred seat.

The dining experience at the Clubhouse

We decided to go ahead and grab a table in the portion of the lounge dedicated to dining. Within seconds we were greeted by Andy, a passionate server who most frequenters to this lounge have probably have met in the past. He was excellent in every respect and his passion for serving was infectious and greatly appreciated.

We chatted it up with him for a while and decided to let him serve up some different cocktails to get our lounge experience started.

He started by bringing us the Mediterranean, which is a fresh cocktail that comes with Grey Goose, Lillet Blanc, Singani 63, Aperol, strawberry, lemon juice, and seltzer. It’s a great starter drink. They also brought out some chips and spiced nuts to snack on.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 18
The Mediterranean

The next drink was the Bramble, which was another great starter drink that came with Bombay Sapphire Gin, blackberries, lemon juice, and blackberry liqueur. I really enjoyed this cocktail as did Brad.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 19
The Bramble.

At this point, we started to work up an appetite and ordered one of the starters, the salmon poke bowl. The poke bowl was absolutely delicious and both me and Brad agreed it was one of the best dishes we’d been served in any of the lounges we’d visited over the past couple of weeks.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 20
The salmon poke bowl.

Our server then surprised us with another drink called the Reckoning, which was a strong rum and punch that came in a formidable Tiki-inspired mug. It took me back to our trips to the Caribbean and was delicious, although by this point I was barely finishing half of my drinks before moving on to the next round.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 21
The Reckoning.

We then decided to order main entrees. I went with the Clubhouse burger and Brad tried out the tagliatelle. These dishes were not quite on par with the poke bowl but were still decent.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 22
The Clubhouse burger.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 23
The tagliatelle.

During our entrees, our server brought out another beverage which he touted as one of the top signature cocktails of the lounge. This was the Beach Bonfire. It came with Bourbon, aged Cachaca, pineapple, gum syrup, Angostura and Bitterman’s Chocolate Mole Bitters, fresh hickory smoke, along with a shorty of pilsner. I absolutely loved this drink!

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 24
The Beach Bonfire.

To cap things off, our serve brought us out a serving of the donuts which were very good as well.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 26
Dessert.

After finishing up dessert, our server decided to bring us our yet another cocktail. At this point, I wasn’t even coming close to finishing up all of the drinks but decided to just roll with it and try out as many different drinks as possible.

This drink was the Virgin Redhead which came with some bubbly and Sapphire Gin.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 25
The Virgin Redhead.

After all of these drinks and entrees, we’d passed over three hours in the lounge and it was nearly time to board. Thankfully, our flight had not been cancelled though it’d been delayed over a 1.5 hours. Still, we happily made our way down to our gate (which was only a couple of minutes away) and boarded the aircraft bound for snowy London.

The menus

Below is the full menu for the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at LAX as of March 2018.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 43
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX menu.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 49
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX menu.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 48
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX menu.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 47
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX menu.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 46
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX menu.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 44
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX menu.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 41
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX menu.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 37
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX menu.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 45
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX menu.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 39
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX menu.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX 35
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX menu.

Final Word

Overall, this lounge experience was a departure from the norm. I don’t think I could handle every lounge experience being like this (with the never ending cocktails) but this was a fun instance to enjoy some indulgence. Having a passionate and personable server made the experience that much more memorable and I’d have to rate this lounge experience as one of the best I’ve had in recent memory.